Disclaimer: I do not own these characters
Author's Note: This is set several years after the third season
New Beginnings
Elliot Burch sat back in his chair and sighed heavily. For the first time in his
life he couldn't be bothered to do any work. With an ironic smile he realised
that he didn't even want to work. Now that was a first.
His eyes roamed around his office. It was luxurious and it was big. But it
was just bricks and it meant nothing. Absolutely nothing.
With one fluid movement he raised himself out of the chair and went to stand
by the window. That was big too. Everything in his life was big. Big buildings,
big offices, big windows, big car, big money. But none of it was friendly, and
it certainly wasn't home.
"Jesus." He said aloud. "What have I been doing all these years?"
'Building an Empire.' His thoughts answered him, 'where everyone sticks
around because they're paid to. No one's here because they want to be.'
"Not even me." He added in a quiet voice, as he continued to stare out at the
New York skyline before him.
But life was about to change. He strode back to his desk and picking up the
phone spoke into it.
"I'm spending the night here and I do not want to be disturbed. If something
comes up, I don't care how important or urgent it is, you deal with it. Tell
whoever it is to call back during office hours. If I'm disturbed before at least
8am, you're all fired. Do I make myself clear."
He winced at the icy tone in his voice, but knew it was the only way to make
sure they didn't come into the office until the next day. He waited until he
heard the obedient, "Yes Mr Burch", from the other end of the line, before
replacing the receiver. Now all he had to do was get out without being seen.
Even using his own private entrance it could be tricky. He laughed aloud at
the irony of Elliot Burch sneaking around like a thief, especially to get out of
on of his own buildings.
Fifteen minutes later he was standing on the pavement outside, a huge grin on
his face, thinking how easy it had been. A few months ago he would have hit
the roof at how lax the security was, today he didn't give a damn. He stuck his
hands into the pockets of his coat and set off along the street, whistling as he
went. He couldn't remember the last time he'd walked anywhere, never mind
whistled. It felt good though. For the first time in a long time he felt free.
Without thinking about where he was going his feet took him towards the park.
Not so surprising really. In his years of being a helper he's often entered the
world below the city using the drainage tunnel entrance in the park, so his feet
naturally headed in that direction.
As he made his way across the park, his mind wandered back to the day five
years ago when he'd betrayed Vincent. Gabriel had convinced him that if it
hadn't been for Vincent, Cathy would have been his. It was just after her death
and he was still grieving, so he had swallowed every lie that Gabriel had told
him. But he'd come to his senses, and warned Vincent just minutes before the
boat they'd both been on exploded. Gabriel's handiwork, as he'd later discovered.
Although hurt in the blast himself, Vincent had saved Elliot's life by dragging
him to safety.
Once they'd both recovered from their injuries, Vincent and Cathy's sone was
safe, and after Gabriel had been killed, (he'd taken great pleasure in hearing
that piece of news), he and Vincent had met again and surprisingly become
friends.
A noise from the tree's brought him back to the present, and he tensed cursing
himself for letting his guard down. He was usually so careful. His eyes
scanned the area to his right and he relaxed as a familiar cloaked figure stepped
forward slightly.
"You must be getting old Elliot. You did not even hear me approach." The
figure said.
"I never hear you Vincent, but my mind was miles away. I was thinking about
that night on the boat."
"That was a very different Elliot Burch my friend. Do not let your mind dwell
on such thoughts. Not tonight. Tonight you should be looking forward to a
new beginning, and a new life."
"I know, but sometimes it's not so easy forgetting the past is it Vincent?" He
replied, not expecting an answer, but knowing that they both now held a
picture of Catherine in their minds.
"Come." Vincent said after a few moments thoughtful silence. "There is
a very eager little boy awaiting your arrival."
Elliot smiled. "Well then we mustn't keep him waiting, must we."
As they entered the drainage tunnel a human cannon ball rushed out at them
and threw himself into Elliot's arms.
"Uncle Elliot, Uncle Elliot, are you really coming to live with us here below?
Are you? Are you?"
Scooping the child up and raising him so that they were face to face, he looked
into the boys sparkling green eyes, Catherine's eyes, and smiled.
"Yes Jacob. I really am."
The End